Captain Maynard Percy Andrews

[1870-1915]

Captain Maynard Percy Andrews
MA
was born in Whitchurch, Shropshire,
the only son of Matilda Frances
(née Clarke), of Harrogate,
and the Rev Percy Andrews.

He was educated at Wem School, Shropshire, Oriel College Oxford and
The Sorbonne in Paris.

On leaving university, he studied modern language teaching in Germany
and France before becoming a school master at Leicester, Bolton and
at Lancing College [1908 to 1910].
While at Lancing he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the
Officer Training Corps [29th October 1909].

He landed with his battalion in France at Boulogne [14th April 1915]
as second-in-command of A Company.

At Ypres, on Saturday 14th August 1915, the
Germans had shelled the trenches heavily from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
The battalion were in trenches about a mile to the north west of
Ypres when a shell burst amongst a working party of 6 men who were
making dugouts, killing 3 men outright and wounding 3 others.

Due to the narrowness of the trench, it was found necessary to carry
the wounded over the top of the trench, over open ground and in full
view of the enemy.
Around 5:00 pm, when it was almost dark, Company Commander
Captain Andrews
volunteered to accompany the rescue team – which included
Private John Shelley,
Lance-Corporal Charles Wood,
and
Private G. Holt
- who went to do this.

The enemy spotted them and opened fire.

Captain Andrews was hit by a bullet in the throat and died
shortly afterwards.

Shelley, Wood and Holt were recommended for an
award for distinguished service.

He was buried at Colne Valley Cemetery [C 7].

His Brigadier wrote

Your husband was killed whilst not only doing his duty, but going
almost beyond it in assisting wounded men.
He died a noble death.
I can only say that his battalion has lost, in my opinion, its very
best officer, and the Brigade a most gallant and exceptionally good
officer.
A short time ago, I was pleased to able to tell your husband that the
Major General commanding the Division had mentioned to me that in all
his visits to the trenches, and many regiments, he had seldom or
never met any officer who was so thoroughly conversant with every
detail of his duty, as your husband.
The Major General told me he was one of the best company officers he
had ever met.
I can endorse that opinion thoroughly

Another officer wrote

Your husband was heroically helping to carry some of his wounded over
a very exposed piece of ground when he was shot in the head and died
shortly afterwards.
He need not have been doing it, but he went because he would not send
another on so dangerous a task.
It was an act of magnificent calculated bravery, but it was to be
expected of him, for he has acted so ever since he came out here.
Both as a soldier and a friend he has set a standard which we can
only set before ourselves as an ideal.
That is the legacy he has left us and it shows to you in some small
way what lengths he went to in serving his country, and how nobly he
played his part